History and General Information
Annapolis cemented its place as the center of naval aviation in 1911 when the Naval Air Station at Greenbury Point was completed. Between 1911 and World War II, the Naval Air Station witnessed many firsts, including the first flight from a naval air station and the first Yard Patrol craft. During World War II and the years that followed, the Naval Air Station's role and footprint expanded, including the addition of 123 acres, new structures, and the establishment of the Severn River Naval Command, which expanded to include a variety of naval support commands and facilities. In 1962, the Severn River Naval Command, including all missions and personnel, were transferred to the Commanding Officer, Naval Station Annapolis. Naval Support Activity (NSA) Annapolis was officially established in 2006, thus streamlining operations and more efficiently supporting the work and education of the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA).
Naval Support Activity (NSA) Annapolis is home to multiple tenants, including: the United States Naval Academy (USNA) which has educated Midshipmen since 1845; North Severn Complex which houses an armory, practice ranges, berthing, and maintenance areas for training vessels; NSA Annapolis command headquarters; Naval Research Laboratory: Chesapeake Bay Detachment in Randle Cliff, Maryland. NSA Annapolis includes more than 400 buildings on 1,500 acres.1
The
USNA is the undergraduate college of the naval service. Naval academy students, referred to as midshipmen, graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree and continue to serve in the Navy or Marine Corps. The 338-acre campus hosts 4,000 midshipmen. In addition to the core curriculum and 18 major fields of study, a wide variety of elective courses and advanced study opportunities are available to advance future careers.
Compatible Use Organizations, Programs, and Resources
For more information on how NSA Annapolis works with surrounding communities to build strong and mutually beneficial relationships, you can explore compatible use organizations, programs, and resources.
Community Resources to Promote Compatibility
Military installations and their host communities have strong and mutually beneficial relationships. They rely on and support one another in terms of jobs, housing, schools, recreation, infrastructure, and social services. Communication, coordination, and partnerships that support compatible community development can create mutually beneficial results to ensure support for warfighters and their families, military operations, and continued community growth and economic development.
Counties and municipalities develop comprehensive plans to provide a
long-term vision for their future growth and development. Comprehensive
plans typically include maps showing proposed future land uses and anticipated
transportation and community facilities, and emphasize sustainability, as
well as protection of environmental features, and historical and cultural
resources.
While comprehensive plans in Maryland do not require a military element,
many plans for jurisdictions around NSA Annapolis include references to
the installation and consider potential influences on the community. NSA
Annapolis is referenced in the following comprehensive plans:
-
City of Annapolis Comprehensive Plan (2009)
- Within the
Parks Chapter, the Naval Academy is recognized as a stakeholder
to continue partnerships in support of expanding the region's park
system. It also recognizes the open spaces the Naval Academy currently
provides and elaborates on its benefits to the city.
- The Naval Academy is considered within the
Environment Chapter in its policy recommendation to minimize
noise and light pollution. While it is a “city-wide strategy to
reduce light pollution,” the Naval Academy and BGE are identified
as partners that should help implement this recommendation.
- The Environment Chapter also identifies the Naval Academy as
a partner in developing the city's strategy for sea level rise.
- Note: Annapolis is currently
updating its comprehensive plan, called
Annapolis
Ahead.
-
Anne Arundel County General Development Plan: Plan2040 (2021)
- Anne Arundel County articulates its desire to continue to work
with federal agencies on redevelopment opportunities throughout the
General Development Plan. An example is in the goals, policies,
and strategies of the implementation plan.
Policy HE1.3 (page 66) seeks to “Promote redevelopment of brownfield sites
to provide economic, community, and environmental benefits,” is
to monitor the status of closed federal facilities and "work with
State/Federal officials, the administration and the community to
identify suitable development opportunities as the sites become
available.”
NSA Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Military Installation Resilience Review: An installation resilience review was completed in June 2023 through a cooperative partnership
between the USNA, the City of Annapolis, and Anne Arundel County. In August
2020, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) awarded the City of Annapolis a grant to assess resilience risks
and vulnerabilities shared by the city, county, and NSA Annapolis. The city
will, in turn, has developed specific migration strategies to avoid, prepare
for, minimize the effect of, adapt to, and recover from extreme weather
events. The study analyzes and assesses risks associated with extreme
weather events and environmental changes associated with climate change,
such as flooding, tidal surge and sea-level rise, in terms of their impacts
on water availability, storm water, waste water, energy supply, transportation,
logistics, and communication infrastructure. The final Installation Resilience
Review Plan includes an action plan
and a prioritized project list focused on shared critical infrastructure
and programs. The plan supports the community and the military and position
the city of Annapolis to apply for funding through existing DoD programs,
such as Readiness and Environmental Protection
Integration (REPI) or the
Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP).
Read the final Military Installation Resilience Review (Published June 9, 2023).
Economic Resources to Promote Compatibility
A jurisdiction's economic development office and support organizations offer a variety of resources that help the community seek out economic growth opportunities and strengthen existing businesses. These resources are particularly valuable for defense communities who are continually looking for ways to attract new business, retain a skilled workforce, and provide resources and opportunities for military families relocating to the area.
NSA Annapolis generates more than 10,149 direct, indirect, and induced jobs as a result of its operations in Annapolis and the surrounding region.2 This includes the military, civilian, and contractor employees responsible for carrying out the installation's mission and the employment opportunities generated by local spending on goods and services by the workforce. For a breakdown of employment type by installation, refer to the installation's economic impact analysis sheet.
According to the FY 2021 Economic Impact of Maryland's Military Installations and the Associated Defense Ecosystem, prepared by the Maryland Department of Commerce, the annual economic output for
NSA Annapolis (sum of direct, indirect, and induced impacts) is $1.01B, with a total employee compensation of $682M.3
The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) serves the
business community, from large corporations to family-owned small businesses,
new entrepreneurial endeavors, and existing commercial enterprises. Services
include financing, site selection assistance, permitting and zoning guidance,
workforce development support, community revitalization, market research,
and small business counseling and resources. AAEDC has a section of resources
devoted to supporting the maritime industry, including the military and
federal activities at NSA Annapolis.
The City of Annapolis'
Transportation
Board provides informed analysis of facts relating to transportation
matters affecting the city and all transportation matters pending before
the City Council or before any city agency, board, or commission. The
board advises the City Council on the implementation of the transportation
master plan, provides guidance and oversight in the planning of comprehensive
traffic, parking, and transit policies, and also provides a forum for citizens
to express their views and concerns regarding transportation and traffic
issues. Additionally, the board coordinates with Anne Arundel County and
the state on the city's transportation concerns. The board consists of fifteen
members, including city residents, at-large appointees, and ad hoc members,
including representation from the Naval Academy.
1 NSA Annapolis Website. Navy CNIC.
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